SD/TCS
SD/Train Control System (SD/TCS for short) is a Windows application for controlling model railroad layouts based on the Selectrix digital system from TRIX.
As of May 21st 2009 the program is currently not available to the public. It has not yet been decided when/if it will be it again.
A closer look
Logically, the program focuses on two areas - the engines and the layout. You can used it for either or both tasks. The primary goal with the program was to monitor and control the layout and set train routes.
Click here to see how my layout looks in SD/TCS version 2 (text in Danish).
Monitoring
The layout and the engines are monitored in real time. Changes made from other controls on engines and electromagnetic devices are reflected on the SD/TCS windows. The state at the Selectrix status level (voltage on/off, programming in progress, etc.) is displayed. A short circuit condition will turn on an audio-visual alarm. An optional Status Viewer displays the operator commands executed as well as major events detected by the system.
Engine control
An engine is controlled by means of the Engine Controller, a window dedicated to that specific engine for setting speed, changing direction and switching the light on/off. A number of options are available for manipulating the appearance of each controller. An engine filter is set up to display the engines on the layout that you want to control from the program.Areas
A layout may be divided into one or more areas. Each area will typically cover a station, a hidden yard or a freight yard. A window is dedicated to each area and displays a track diagram of the related section of the layout. Options are available for setting timing attributes, the visual appearance in general as well as of the tracks in various states. Routes can be set, an optionally locked, by switching a single track element (e.g. an electromagnetic switch) directly or through routing buttons.
Routes
The way to switch routes are based on route buttons. By activating a single button complex routes may be swicthed. Different colour schemes may be applied for differentiating between types of routes.
A passing-through-route on track 3 is being set.
What's Next?
I hope that a GUI application for creating the import configuartion file for a layout will become available this year. It seems that people find the handmade configuration too difficult or too cumbersome.
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